January 7, 2008 at 2:51 am | In Long Rides, Street/Road Conditions, Weekend Rides, weather conditions |
Warm Winter Day
Today was very warm for January. When I started my ride at about 9, the temperature was nearly 50o. When I finished about 11, it was 53o in my backyard. I rode almost 28 miles following the same route as last week. I didn’t take the Bloomington rail trail home but chose a more direct route.
The roads were wet and gritty. My bike was dirty when I got home and I could tell the grit was getting into the drive train in the last few miles. Fortunately, by late afternoon, the temperature was about 60, so I was able to clean the bike and lube the chain, etc. The bike is ready for commuting this week.
Some details:
- The traffic was very light. I hardly saw a car before 10:30.
- Down by Lake Monroe, the temperature was about 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the ride. It looks like most ice on the Lake had melted.
- For the past two rides, I’ve used my small chain ring (2
to climb the Stipp Rd hill. For years, it was not unusual to slip out once or twice on steep hills when the roads had winter grit on them. In the little ring, I can sit back comfortably and never push hard to climb the hills. I’ve learned to tolerate a little slip from my mountain bike riding but it’s still scary on a road bike.
I don’t think I’ve ever ridden 58 miles in January, so this might be a good year for biking for me.
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That looks like a neat route. What is “Old 446,” as you refer to it here? Is that Knightridge? It sounds like it might be a good way to avoid part of 446 at times. You’re obviously a lot more familiar with the roads around here than I am.
I’ll take you up on your offer to show me the Hoosier Hills 60K route. Looking at a map I now see that Ramp Creek Road seems to be the eastern part of Smithville. I know where that is, but the sign says Smithville, so I didn’t turn there. I’ve even gone that way before.
So I think I figured out that part of it, at least. Still, a guided tour would be helpful, thanks!
That ride was longer than what I normally do in the winter, too, but it’s not normally 60 degrees in January.
Comment by Apertome — January 8, 2008 #